Superintendent search heats up in Hawthorn District 73
The search for a superintendent in Hawthorn Elementary District 73 is gathering momentum.
Focus groups are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday for parents, teachers, staff and others as part of the process to find a replacement for Superintendent Sue Zook, who is retiring June 30, 2012.
An online survey also is available until Oct. 10 for residents of the Vernon Hills-based district at www.hawthorn73.org.
The focus groups are open to the public. Community/business/government representatives will meet Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., followed by teachers and staff at 3:45 p.m. and parents at 5 p.m. at the district office, 841 West End Court, Vernon Hills.
Teachers and staff also are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and parents at 4 p.m. Thursday.
The focus groups will be held in an open conversation style to gather comments. Those observations will be compiled and blended with survey results in a report to the school board in late October.
“It’s helpful to us when we look at candidates and screen, to have in our heads what the community is looking for,” said Linda Hanson, a consultant to District 73 with School Exec Connect.
Hanson, a former superintendent at Mundelein High School is working with David Clough, former superintendent for Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128, in what will be a national search.
Applications for the post are just going out.
“We have advertised and we are beginning the process of accepting applications so everything is where it should be at this point,” Hanson said.
Consultants have recommended confidentiality be granted to all applicants so sitting superintendents can apply without publicity, leading to a stronger candidate pool.
The schedule calls for candidates to be presented to the board Nov. 15. Three finalists are scheduled to be interviewed, with administrator, teacher, staff and parent feedback on Dec. 8, 9 and 14. The new superintendent is expected to be hired in January.
Zook served 19 years in various positions in District 73. She announced her retirement last May. School board officials said the decision was not performance related. Zook said uncertainty regarding the structure of pension benefits hastened her departure.